A Strategy for Improving the Technology Transfer System in Afghanistan through ATMA Model using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Approach

The goal of technology transfer is to improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities. This goal is proposed to be achieved by pilot-testing a sustainable and integrated water and land management strategy in selected districts and provinces that will introduce or expand the use of high-value, water-efficient crop and livestock systems to increase farm household income. Where these new agricultural innovations and/or value-added systems are proven to be effective, then the next step will be to scale-up these innovations to other producer/farmer groups within the current and/or other comparable agro-ecological zones/districts within the country. An additional purpose will be to organize farmer, producer, community and/or self-help groups (especially for rural women) at the community level so they can learn procedures for marketing specific high-value crops and products, as well as in managing their water resources at the community level. The paper discusses the methods and strategies using participatory rural appraisal to evolve a workable model for developing the agricultural sector in two provinces of Afghanistan, namely Balkh and Nangarhar.